Semaphoric indicator



Oct. 9,-1928. 1,686,735.,

` W. P. DALRYMPLE SBMAPHORIC INDICATOR Filed Nov. 12, 1926 WIV/7141451 Patented @et 9, 1928. f

UNITED STATES WILLIAM '.P. DALRYMPLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEMAPI-IORIC INDICATOR.`

Ap plcaton filed November yThis invention relates-to improvements in indicators and more especially to the semaphore type of thermal indicator used on automobile radiator caps to give an indication' which the semaphore is centrally pivoted to the instrument frame and engaged near the axis by the arm of the thermal element, so that the semaphore is swung back and forth by the thermal responsive movement of saidV Heretofore a frame plate was secured in the instrument frame with a portion of the metal extruded from one side to provide a stud; and the semaphore arm plate was inserted between the end of a leaf spring or retainer strap, which was secured at one end to the frame plate, with the stud projecting through a small hole in the semaphore arm plate. A. triangular aperture was cut in the arm plate leaving a bar at the edge. The' actuating arm of the instrument was then notched at the side to receive the bar, so that the end could be engaged in the apex of the triangular aperture. Since the retainer can Dress onl lightl against the semaphore late l 3/ c J c on account of the friction, the result was that the plate was not securely held on the stud, and was easily dislodged from position. The

bar rubbed on the actuating arm` and the notch weakened the arm'and made itv diflicult to adjust the device to operate at the desired temperatures; since the adjustment necessarily accomplished byibending the arm. The parts were dii'licult to assemble and the design was not well adapted for obtaining accurate instruments by the methods of quantity production.

Accordingly, in this invention an improved mounting is provided for the semaphore arm plate by locking the movable end of the retaining leaf down after the semaphore arm is inserted in position; and a construction is provided wherein note-hing the actuating arm is eliminated; the main objects being to provide a device which can be assembled on a quantity basis and accurate instruments produced; to provide such a device in which the different parts may be mechanically adjusted before parts are assembled; to provide an appli y 12, 1926. serial No. 147,957.

instrument in which the parts cannot be dislocated by such jolting and vibrating as is encountered in use on an automobile; to provide an instrument which operates with very little friction and offers very little resistance to the movement of the responsive actuating member.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a semaphore automobile radiator instrument.

, Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. y l

Fig. 3 shows the support plate and retainer arm assembled thereon.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the instrument frame comprises a housing 1 having an opening 2 therethrough in which the semaphorev 3 is mounted, and a hollow threaded stem 4, integral with the housing 1, which threads' into the radiator cap. A cup 5 is inserted in the stem 4, in a well known manner and con-l tains va thermal element to which the control arm 6 Vis attached and is thereby made movably' responsive to the changes in the tem` perature of the radiator. When the radiator is cold, the upper end of the arm 6' is to the leftv as shown, and when the temperature rises, the end of the finger moves to the right and rotates the semaphore arm 3 counterclockwise to thev opposite position. c

The support plate 7 is received in suitable recesses provided in the'central flange 8 of the yhousing 1, and is held in position by means of the glass retaining ringk 9k which is forced into the angular recess 10 in the base of thehousing 1. The plate 7 has a depending portion 11 from which is excluded a projection or stud 12, which is located in the center ofthe housing 1. A thin leaf spring retainer 13 is anchored at one end of the plate 7 by means of stakes 14%, stamped out ofthe leaf spring 13, which are inserted in the counterbored hole 15 in the upper portion of the plate 7, and bent over as shown. The free end of the leaf spring 13 is apertured to fit over the stud 12 and is convoluted to provide a line contact.

The semaphore 3 comprises a bi-lobular st-amping having an aperture 16 at the center, with a radial, outwardly opening V-notch 17 directly below the aperture 16. The semaloo phore arm 3 is inserted between the free end of the leaf 13 and the plate 7 with the lug 12 projecting through the aperture 16n For locking the retainer member 13 after the semaphore 3 is in position, a tongue 18 is bent out from the main portion of the leaf 13 and projects through a receiving aperture 2O in the plate 7. After the semaphore arm is in position, the projecting end of the tongue 1S is bent over as shown more plainly in Fig. 5. The tongue 18 is bent over loosely so as to not increase the pressure on the plate .3, but to limit the upward movement of the end of the leaf 13, so that the semaphore arm cannot be displaced from the stud.

The arm 6 projects into the notch 17, and the end engages between two oppositely arranged shoulders 21, at the apex of the notch and closeto the rotational axis of the arm 3. Projections 22 are also provided at the outer portions of the notch 1T, which strike against the sides of the arm (l and form stops for limiting the movement thereof.

In this manner, al frictionless'mounting is provided for the seme ahore arm, and the arm is also locked in position. The notch in the actuating arm 6 is eliminated so that the arm may be bent to the proper form in a gauge before the device is assembled, and is not easily bent out of the proper shape. The assembling is greatly simplified and the seinaphore arm does not rub on the surface of the actuating` arm and thereby cause friction, especially when the device is in a tilted position.

lhile but one illustrative embodiment of lthis invention has been shown and described,

alterations and omissions may beI had, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame, a semaphore arm pivoted in the central portion of the frame, said arm having a radial outwardly opening notch adjacent its pivot and a condition responsively movable arm projecting into the apex of said notch for directly moving the semaphore arm and the sides of this arm at a distance from the end engaging with the sides of the notch at a distance from the apex for limiting the movement of the semaphore arm in both directions,

2. In a device of the class: described, a plate having a stud, a leaf spring secured to the plate, a semaphore arm inserted between the leaf spring and the plate and pivoted on said stud, said arm having a V-notch opening outwardly from the axis of rotation, and an actuating rlever projecting into said notch.

3. In a device of the class described, a plate having a stud, a leaf spring secured to the plate, a semaphore armvinserted between the leaf spring and the plate and pivoted on said stud. said arm having a V-notch with the apex of the notch near the axis of rotation, and an actuating lever. projecting into said notch with the end engaging the arm at the apex of the notch.

4. In al device of the class described, ya plate having a stud, a. leaf spring secured to the plate, a. semaphore arm having an aperture, said semaphore arminserted between the leaf spring and the plate with the stud entered in said aperture, a condition responsively movable arm to directly engage and move the semaphore arm, and means for locking the leaf spring after the semaphore arm has been inserted to pevent saidv arm from being displaced.

In a device ofthe class described, a plate having a stud and an aperture, a leaf `spring' anchored to the plate, a semaphore arm having an aperture, said semaphore arm inserted between Athe leaf spring and the plate with the stud entered insaid aperture in the arm, a condition responsively movable4 arm to directly engage and move the semaphorev arm and a tongue formed on the leaf spring adapted to 'be inserted through the aperture in the plate and bent over after the semaphore. arm is inserted to loc-lr the arm on the stud.

6. In a semaphore indicator, a frame, an indicatorpivoted in the ce-ntral portion of the frame having a. notch opening outwardly from adjacent the pivot thereof, and a condition responsively movable arm engaging at its end in the notch close to the pivot for moving the indicator in opposite directions and the sides of the arm at a distance from the said end engaging the sides of the notch at the outer port-ions thereof for limiting the movement of the indicator in both directions.

Signed at Chicago this 10th day of Nove1nber, 1926.

WILLIAM P. DALRYMPLE. 

